Free Things to Do in Indianapolis: 8 Ideas That Cost Nothing

Published by the Indy Inspired team · How we researchSources linked in this guideIndependent guideHow we earn money

Updated November 2, 2026

Indy Inspired is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Visit Indy, the City of Indianapolis or any attraction. Some links may become affiliate links in the future; see our disclosure.

Quick answer: You can fill a whole day in Indianapolis without paying admission: walk or bike the Cultural Trail and Canal Walk, explore the grounds of White River State Park, see the monuments on the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza, take a public tour of the Indiana Statehouse, and finish at the top of Crown Hill Cemetery for a skyline view.

Most of these are outdoor public spaces downtown, so you can link several together on foot.

Free ideas at a glance

Idea	What you'll do	Good for
Indianapolis Cultural Trail	Walk or bike a protected downtown trail linking neighborhoods and public art (our guide)	Everyone
Canal Walk	Stroll the downtown canal past museums and memorials (our guide)	Couples, easy walks
White River State Park grounds	Lawns, river views and paths; the zoo and museums inside charge admission (our guide)	Picnics, kids
Indiana World War Memorial Plaza	Monuments, fountains and open space across several downtown blocks	History fans
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument	See the landmark at Monument Circle; check whether the observation deck has a fee	First-time visitors
Indiana Statehouse	Public tours on weekdays, with limited weekend tours	Families, history
Monon Trail	A rail trail of about 28.5 miles linking Indianapolis, Carmel, Westfield and Sheridan	Runners, cyclists
Crown Hill Cemetery	Historic grounds and the view of downtown from James Whitcomb Riley's tomb at the summit	Quiet walks, photography

A free downtown day plan

Morning: start at Monument Circle, then walk north through the War Memorial Plaza. Midday: follow the Cultural Trail west to the Canal Walk and on into White River State Park for a picnic. Afternoon: book a Statehouse tour on a weekday, or drive out to Crown Hill for the skyline view. Paid places along the way, like the zoo and the Children's Museum, are easy to add if you want them.

When free isn't the best choice

In winter or on a rainy day, most of these outdoor ideas are less fun, and a paid indoor attraction may be worth it. Also budget for parking: walking the sights is free, but downtown parking usually isn't.

Hours, fees and tour times change. Check each place's official site before you go. Planning a whole weekend? Grab our free Indianapolis weekend checklist.

Frequently asked questions

What is free to do in Indianapolis today?

Outdoor public spaces are free any day: the Cultural Trail, Canal Walk, Monon Trail, War Memorial Plaza and the grounds of White River State Park. Check official sites for events and tour times.

Is the Indiana Statehouse open to visitors?

Yes. The Statehouse offers public tours during the work week and limited tours on weekend mornings. Check the Statehouse Tour Office for current times.

Are there free things to do in Indianapolis with kids?

Yes. Kids usually enjoy the Canal Walk, open lawns at White River State Park, and biking a stretch of the Cultural Trail or Monon Trail.